Main Activities

• Activity Area 1: Establishing and coordinating the network. A kick-off meeting will enable network members to adopt the governance under which the network will work. Key research areas and potential synergies between the network members will be identified.
• Activity Area 2: Setting up of the website and virtual platform. A virtual platform facilitating exchanges among the members will be set up and will allow for sharing of information and collaboration on common documents. A knowledge database will be established to find datasets as well as experts and expertise in every field and method concerning regional integration. The website will be the main access point to the network for the general public.
• Activity Area 3: Strengthening research centres. The network members with useful expertise will improve the management of research centres by providing participants with trainings on how to design and conduct research. The training sessions will improve the capacity for international cooperation and the promotion and dissemination of their research. The trainings will include a training of trainers (TOT) and the publication of a short manual.
• Activity Area 4: Facilitating joint research programmes on regional integration. Joint research programmes will be facilitated in order to produce quality and comprehensive research and analysis. The network will push for participants to capitalize on each others strength and already existing partnerships. This action, along with the introduction of a mobility scheme, will foster co-operation between HEIs in ACP countries, create poles of excellence and provide highly trained human resources.
• Activity Area 5: Topic based seminars. During topic based seminars, all taking place in ACP states, lectures will be provided by lecturers from the network members with relevant expertise in the field of study. These seminars may focus on EPAs, Trade and Investment, micro-regionalim, good governance, peace and security and conflict prevention. The presentations and outcomes of the topic based seminars will then be compiled into booklets.
• Activity Area 6: Exchange programmes and mobility. Network members will design a framework for guest lecturers/researchers’ mobility ensuring that common standards are respected. Also, the internship schemes can be introduced in public bodies, especially regional organisations with the aim of offering a direct exposure to the work of decision-makers and practitioners working on regional integration while at the same time providing the institutions human resource with academic knowledge.
• Activity Area 7: International conference and dissemination. The conference, organised by a conference coordinator, will serve as a way to engage network members and other stakeholders, including policy makers, on key issues that are researched by the network members. It will serve as an intellectual debate space and increase the visibility, outreach and dissemination of the network members research including through the publication of a book.
• Activity Area 8: Final evaluation and workshop. A final evaluation will be carried out by an independent reviewer. A final workshop will be held to discuss lessons learned and evaluate the successes and outcomes of the project as well as designing new strategies and future actions.